Illustration Classes NYC

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Reviews for Illustration Classes in NYC

Illustration Classes in NYC are rated 4.6 stars based on 1,403 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Stacey C. • June 13, 2025
  James was a caring, dedicated, and passionate teacher. I have taken many drawing classes over the years and this was one of the best, and I've learned new skills as well! I highly recommend this class to anyone he wants to be taught by a wonderful teacher, and enhance their skills.

• Long Pose Figure Drawing

  Lorenza F. • June 10, 2025
  Great class and space! Had pencils/easels, instructor was really good as well :)

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting

  Melissa R. • June 10, 2025
  I absolutely loved this class! I’d for years wanted to take a class to help me improve on my sketching and learn some basic techniques. I love to draw, sketch, watercolor and now I feel like I have some real skills to create. Raphael is a superb teacher, very personalized instruction and so talented and lovely. I’ll be taking more classes with him in the fall. Wonderful experience

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting

  Vincent M. • June 10, 2025
  Great class and even better teacher. I progressed so much in just 3 classes. I would recommend to anyone who wants to start drawing.

• Learning Art through Creating Art

  Yekaterina G. • June 10, 2025
  I really enjoyed this 3 part series class. This is the first art class that i took as an adult and Rafael made the process very accessible and inspiring. I love that he provides all supplies so you don't need to buy anything in advance. Also new students come in every week and there are students there who have been working for longer which allowed me to see not just my progression but those of other students as well. I really learned how to see in this class and got much better at drawing than when I first began. Would recommend!

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting (For Two)

  Kayleen C. • June 10, 2025
  At first, I was intimidated to take a drawing course since I had no drawing experience, but I’m so glad I did. Raphael is a warm and inviting teacher, and there is absolutely no judgment in the class. He helps bring out each student’s unique style during one-on-ones and provides great critiques. You can tell Raphael truly loves art! Through this course, I learned shading techniques, depth perception, and proportions —all of which are foundational to drawing. I’m excited to apply these skills in future work, and I am retaking another class.

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting

  Isabel • June 9, 2025
  This class has been such a refreshing creative outlet. I had no formal training and barely drew before, but after just 3 sessions I am pleasantly surprised at what I created. Rafael creates a calm, supportive space and teaches practical techniques like mark mapping, scaling with reference points, and breaking down shapes—which made drawing feel approachable and fun. I also loved how he brought in artist references and bits of art history for inspiration. Highly recommend for anyone looking to reconnect with their creativity, no matter their starting point.

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting

  Christopher W. • May 19, 2025
  10/10 and this class is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the week! It has a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to focus and have fun at the same time. Everyone is friendly and supportive which makes the whole experience feel welcoming. Raphael is a great instructor giving personalized feedback and guidance no matter your skill level. I learned how to map out shapes using mark-making techniques and build form through light and shadow. One of the highlights for me was the quick sketching exercises, where I spent 10 minutes each drawing different objects with charcoal. At first it was intimidating, but it really helped me get more confident and comfortable with the process. I’m currently working with colored pastels and excited to see where that leads. If I could only take one art class, this would be the one.

• Saturday Figure Drawing

  Nicholas B. • May 13, 2025
  Class was great, relaxed environment with good people, model was excellent, highly recommend!

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting

  Bruno D. • May 13, 2025
  I enjoyed the class, the instructor gave us personalized instruction, and I was happy to learn from a professional.

• The Meditative Still Life

  Caitlin • May 5, 2025
  I thoroughly enjoyed The Meditative Still Life! My drawing skills improved immensely throughout the course, and I noticed significant progress after each individual session. I was genuinely surprised by how much I had learned even after just the first and second weeks, and by the third week I felt much more confident in my abilities. Before this class, I hadn’t worked much with charcoal and often found it intimidating. However, the course structure—with individualized still lifes and personalized instruction—made it feel much more approachable and tangible. I now feel far more comfortable sketching on my own. The class has completely shifted the way I approach and observe subjects to sketch, which has positively impacted all of my other art practices as well. In particular, my oil painting has improved thanks to a stronger foundation in underdrawing. Raphaél provides thoughtful, individualized attention and constructive feedback that allows each student to grow at their own pace. This is by far the best sketching and drawing class I’ve ever taken, as it's the only time I’ve seen such a dramatic improvement in my work from the beginning of a course to the final piece. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to strengthen their sketching and drawing skills!

• Instructed Drawing: Improve Your Drawing Skills

  Erica E. • April 8, 2025
  Great teacher nice atmosphere

• Open Studio

  Judy G. • April 8, 2025
  This was a brilliant way to spend a Saturday! Melisse was terrific and the studio is cozy and had every type of material to dive into a day of creativity and calm. I will definitely be back

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Anonymous • April 1, 2025
  The instructor was truly so helpful and took time to really cater the experience to exactly what I needed in my level of drawing. It definitely is an intro class and an introduction to the studio so do keep that in mind as a good chunk of the first hour was walking through the studio and talking about what services were offered etc. The instructor did gladly let me stay past the time to help me individually with my drawing which I so appreciated and everyone there was so helpful. I would definitely recommend if someone is considering full time classes at the studio for an introduction class.

• Character Drawing: The Cartoon Psyche Unleashed

  Rachel S. • March 14, 2025
  I had an excellent experience with Gosha. I had zero drawing experience, and he helped make it feel accessible and fun. He also did a great job catering his instruction toward my individual goals.

• Drawing for Beginners

  Rasheed W. • March 12, 2025
  Bernado is amazing. I learned so many new things and had a blast drawing and learning from him. Would definitely recommend and take again.

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Laura K. • March 6, 2025
  James was an awesome instructor and is clearly very passionate about what he does. A very comfortable environment with helpful feedback!

• Drawing Improvement Through Bargue Copying

  Alice G. • February 18, 2025
  Wonderful course. The instructor was amazing and so helpful; I am surprised that I managed to see improvement in just one course. This studio is a delightful place to learn.

• Instructed Drawing: Improve Your Drawing Skills

  Margaret S. • January 17, 2025
  It was informative, relaxed and fun

• Accelerated Portraiture Drawing

  Kelly K. • November 27, 2024
  This was the first art class I have ever taken in person. I have mostly studied online. James was such a great teacher, super welcoming. The space is great, all of the students were happy to be there. There is something really inspiring about being in a place surrounded with paintings, drawings, sculptures etc, ran by someone who really cares about what they're doing, and is an incredibly talented artist themselves. The small class sizes is a huge plus. I learned a lot on my first day and 100% will be returning. I can't say enough good things.

• Drawing for Beginners

  Susan H. • November 6, 2024
  Great class, great teacher and great group of students :)

• Drawing 1.01 Drawing Basics

  Asha J. • October 29, 2024
  Dan is a great teacher and provides thorough and enjoyable lessons on the fundamentals of drawing. Would recommend!

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting (For Two)

  Carina • October 17, 2024
  Learned a lot and very enjoyable.

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Yash J. • October 7, 2024
  Really friendly, super helpful and inspiring. Highly recommend for artists of any level (I went with virtually no drawing experience), especially if you’re looking to do something different and new.

• Fundamentals of Drawing & Painting

  Amy • September 27, 2024
  Great instructor and my friends and I had a blast! We started the class with a lesson and then spent the rest of class working on a still life that Raphael set up for us. He was very helpful and kind in explaining how we could improve our drawings. Lots of fun chats and side stories to keep you entertained throughout the 2.5 hrs!

• Learning Art through Creating Art

  Ernest W. • August 29, 2024
  Great teacher. Very passionate about art, fun, patient, and encouraging.

• Beginners Drawing Class at The MET: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  Anonymous • August 3, 2024
  Ingrid is a great instructor! Very engaged and always introducing new techniques. Also the MET is the best location for beginners to try drawing - so much inspiration!

• Drawing for Beginners

  Carlisa R. • June 30, 2024
  I enjoyed the class and learned a lot about different mediums/supplies (pencil types, charcoal, water color, etc). Even though I have experience with art, I was hoping for more beginners-level instructions about the fundamentals of how to draw objects. Day one, we just sort dived right into a big still-life with multiple objects. I thought we would start with one vase, and breaking that down into shapes and representing shadows, etc. Same for the live model. What the best approach to drawing a proportional figure. I did love the instructor. She was helpful, approachable, and found positive/constructive feedback for everyone. I just imagine the class would have more structured progression.

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Anonymous • June 18, 2024
  It's incredibly hard to find ongoing beginner classes for adults. James was great and spent a lot of one on one time with me which is pretty unheard of in group classes. Taking more classes and very excited to learn how to draw.

• Beginners Drawing at the MET Museum

  Anonymous • June 15, 2024
  Lovely class - relaxing yet informative. Spending time at the MET every week was definitely a huge plus. Luke was our instructor - so knowledgable and so sweet! Really helped to get his feedback all along on the sketching

• Accelerated Portraiture Drawing

  Zarna G. • May 31, 2024
  If you’re looking to improve your artistic ability, look no further. James offers very professional lessons across a wide range of mediums. There were only a few other students in the class, so it felt as if I had a private session. I’ve learned so much from just a few hours working with him. Was a unique and special way to spend my time in New York. Highly recommend.

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Meena H. • May 23, 2024
  Great class. James is a wonderful instructor. Gives you a lot of room to grow while giving helpful tips and advice.

• Accelerated Portraiture Drawing

  Renee C. • May 22, 2024
  It was a really great class; James is really knowledgeable and impressive. During my 3 hours there, I learned new ways of organizing my drawing so I can depict the subject matter with more ease and fluidity. James has taught at schools like Stanford, and he is classically trained; he gave me tips on how to hold my pencil and block out shadows so I can better depict mid tones and highlights. I would definitely go again and I recommend for other people to go.

• New Yorker Style Cartooning Night (with wine and light nibbles)

  Dave S. • April 8, 2024
  Lots of fun! Great way to spend an evening: supportive atmosphere, and a crash course in how to look at one-panel cartoons. Very much open to beginners, just as much fun for people with experience.

• Drawing for Beginners

  Anonymous • April 6, 2024
  Really enjoyed this class! The instructor was great and I enjoyed it a lot. Only wish there were more classes (especially for the price)

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Anonymous • April 1, 2024
  What a wonderful experience! The Atelier is a breeding ground for creativity. James provides excellent guidance through the art of drawing, sculpting and painting and highly encourages in depth study of human anatomy. Our class was very intimate and I just loved being surrounded by likeminded intellectuals, discussing art, perspective and philosophy. I will be back

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Iktan A. • March 24, 2024
  The experience for my grandson was excellent! His progress was made all the better due to his professor who explained throughly where he could expand his knowledge. I’m looking forward to set up additional classes for him.

• Adobe Illustrator Tutorial (Private Training)

  Amelia C. • March 13, 2024
  This was exactly what I was looking for and what I needed. I look forward to more targeted sessions!

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Sharise S. • March 11, 2024
  Very informative and beautiful space, makes you motivated to draw and feel out your own skills. James the instructor was so kind and made my sister and I feel right at home and help with drawing pointers. Best art class by far with demonstrations and kind words thay push us to be better.

• The Vital Line

  Ryn H. • March 10, 2024
  The perfect balance of personal and professional, this class was as fun as it was informative and laid back. Greg was a great teacher!

• Instructed Drawing: Improve Your Drawing Skills

  Arkanath P. • March 9, 2024
  Fun class, relaxing environment, instructor Simon keeps the students engaged

• Instructed Drawing: Improve Your Drawing Skills

  Anonymous • March 8, 2024
  The teacher was patient and it was good practice after not drawing for a while I will probably sign up again

• Drink and Draw

  Megan F. • March 8, 2024
  Loved this class. It was fun and low pressure. I’ll definitely go back.

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Albert D. • March 7, 2024
  James was among the best teachers I’ve ever had - patient, passionate, and devoted. Was such a pleasure to take his class!

• Adobe Illustrator Tutorial (Private Training)

  Anonymous • March 6, 2024
  I recently had the opportunity to take a private Adobe Illustrator class, and it was an incredibly beneficial experience. The personalized nature of the session allowed me to focus on developing fundamental skills at my own pace. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, I delved into the basic tools and functionalities of Adobe Illustrator, which was particularly helpful as a beginner. The instructor's clear explanations and thorough coverage of essential tools provided a solid foundation for me to build upon. By the end of the session, I felt more confident navigating the software and creating simple illustrations. Overall, the private class served as an effective starting point for my journey into the world of digital design.

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Abigail D. • March 5, 2024
  Incredible time! James genuinely works with each individual and meets them where they are at. I am an absolute beginner and felt comfortable leaning into the process and thoroughly enjoyed opening myself up to a new skill set!

• Classical Drawing By Candlelight

  Jakob S. • March 1, 2024
  Amazing! The instructor is inspiring:) and givers one on one attention to you. Highly recommend

• Accelerated Introduction to Drawing

  Aeden Z. • February 19, 2024
  Passionate teacher, generous with time, answered questions

• Illustration and Comics Foundations

  Anonymous • December 14, 2023
  Floyd was great! He’s a college professor so he’s good at managing a class and making it a fun time for everyone!

• Beginner Intuitive Painting: The Vedic Art Method

  jay s. • December 4, 2023
  really enjoyed the class with Ingvild. This was my first time painting since middle school and I wanted a class that would help me understand the basics of painting. Ingvild is a great teacher. I also a blast meeting other students in the class. Highly recommend for both beginners like myself and more advanced students as the Vedic Art Method has different steps depending on the students experience